Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate Accelerated Capability Event 27-02- Spectrum Enabled Warfare

This SAM notice is to highlight the G-TEAD USAREUR-AF ACE 27-02 Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by XTECH.

• Accelerated Capability Event 27-02 | Spectrum Enabled Warfare See: https://xtech.army.mil/ for official response date.

Description:

The U.S. Army, through the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) and U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), in operational partnership with the U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program, is conducting an Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) to evaluate, demonstrate, and acquire operationally mature (TRL 6+) electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) capabilities.

This effort enables U.S. Army forces operating within a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and joint coalition framework on the Eastern Flank to sense, understand, exploit, attack, and protect across a contested electromagnetic environment (EME) and connected cyberspace. To preserve combat power and freedom of maneuver, forces must protect tactical command and control (C2) networks while delivering synchronized lethal and non-lethal effects at depth against adversary systems.

The G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities utilizes Accelerated Capability Events (ACEs) via including, but not limited to, Prize Challenge events (e.g., Army xTech Program) and Alternate Pathway submissions through open call announcements to create a competitive, compliant, and scalable acquisition framework. Vendors who qualify will have their capabilities added to the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities and remain eligible for rapid follow-on contracts, agreements, or Orders without the need for further competition.

This SAM notice is to highlight ACE 27-02 Spectrum Enabled Warfare. Selected vendors will receive prize funds, demonstrate solutions in Germany before Army and NATO end-users, may leave behind kits for follow-on operational evaluation, and may be awarded a Prototype Other Transaction (OT) Agreement (10 U.S.C. § 4022) with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f) – Follow-on Production Contracts or Transactions included. Winners will be onboarded into the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities for potential follow-on procurement following the planned event. In addition, G-TEAD provides funding to ASCC commanders to select winners to purchase capabilities for operational deployment.

Goals

• Accelerate warfighter-relevant technology fielding
• Ensure statutory competition requirements are satisfied up front, enabling direct ordering.
• Provide a unified experimentation and operational fielding environment for U.S., NATO, and coalition partners.
• Enable compliant acquisition pathways to include via FAR, OTs (10 U.S.C. §§ 4021, 4022, 4023), BAAs, CSOs, and 10 U.S.C. § 4025 (Prize Competitions).
• Support Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) for allied/partner nations.

Vendor On Ramp Pathways via ACEs:

• Prize Challenge Pathway: Vendors compete in prize-based challenges (e.g. xTech competition), receive initial prize funding, demonstrate solutions in designated regions, and qualify to onboard into the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities.
• Alternate Pathway: Future notices will be used to issue calls for Submission via Alternate Pathway. The Alternate Pathway release is PENDING with no announcement date planned at this time. We greatly appreciate the immense interest we have received from the Defense Industrial Base in joining the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities. Please do NOT email or inquire about the Alternate Pathway at this time. No action will be taken if you submit information.
• We expect to execute multiple ACEs annually. Previous  and future efforts can be found at https://xtech.army.mil/competitions/

Capability Focus Areas

The Army is seeking innovative capabilities that demonstrate performance in one (1) of four (4) capability areas:

• Capability 1: Electromagnetic Support / Tactical Surveillance (*)

Passive sensing solutions that detect, characterize, direction-find, and geolocate complex emitters at the tactical edge without producing detectable RF signatures or overloading tactical networks. Emphasizes low-SWaP-C distributed sensor employment across maneuver formations, autonomous edge signal processing, multi-sensor tasking/handoffs under Disconnected, Degraded, Intermittent, or Limited (DDIL) conditions, and cross-mission utility (c-UAS, CIED, ES, and EA). Modalities include mounted, dismounted/static, ground robotics, and Group 1–3 UAS.

• Capability 2: Autonomous Network Management (*)

Open, self-healing, automated network infrastructures adhering to open standards (MOSA, SOSA, CMOSS / CMFF) capable of autonomously orchestrating distributed EMSO assets, managing dynamic spectrum resources, executing automated PACE plans, and routing critical sensor-to-shooter feeds under DDIL constraints without continuous operator intervention.

• Capability 3: Electromagnetic Environment Visualization and Battle Damage Assessment Tools (*)

  Intuitive, multi-echelon user interfaces translating dense RF environments into real-time operational visual layers. Includes algorithmic automated Non-Lethal Battle Damage Assessment (NL-BDA) capable of measuring and validating the efficacy of deployed electronic attack against target signatures, edge-native analytics, and direct sensor-to-shooter integration with next-generation mission command systems.

• Capability 4: Electromagnetic Attack & Active Countermeasures

Modular, scalable Electronic Attack (EA) and Counter-C5ISR frameworks across Battalion to Corps echelons. Focuses on platform-tailored SWaP-C scalability (dismounted, vehicle-mounted, robotic/UAS), cognitive closed-loop jamming (sense-and-jam, adaptive protocol disruption), broadband multi-threat defeat (wideband DRFM, protocol injection, synthetic target generation, NAVWAR/GNSS denial/deception), and distributed multi-node cooperative jamming integrated into joint fires networks.

(*) Note on SBIR Eligibility: Army SBIR Direct to Phase II (DP2) funding opportunities under topic ARM27BX01-DP001 are strictly limited to eligible U.S. Small Businesses selected as finalists/winners in Capability Areas 1, 2, and 3. Capability Area 4 is strictly ineligible for SBIR funding, but finalists/winners in Capability Area 4 are eligible for direct Prototype Other Transaction Agreements (10 U.S.C. § 4022) and FAR-based procurement contract opportunities. SBIR can be found at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/

Authorities used

• FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) – Contracts
• 10 USC 4021 – Research Other Transaction (OT)
• 10 USC 4022 – Prototype Other Transaction (OT)
• 10 USC 4022 (f) - Follow-on Production Contracts or Transactions
• 10 USC 4023 – Procurement for Experimental Purposes
• 10 USC 4025 – Prize Competitions
• 10 USC 3458 – Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO)
• 48 CFR § 35.016 – Broad Agency Announcements (BAA)

Points of Contract

Technical POC: MAJ Brian Jernigan, brian.k.jernigan3.mil@army.mil

Contracting POC (409th CSB)

Mr. Chris Paitson, john.c.paitson.civ@army.mil,

MAJ Aaron Mallory, aaron.g.mallory.mil@army.mil

Vendor Submission Guidance

Please refer to the xTech Accelerated Capability Event 27-02 | Spectrum Enabled Warfare See: https://xtech.army.mil/

FAQ:

Q1: What is the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities (name change pending)

A1: Is an ASA(ALT) initiative to accelerate testing and experimentation directly aligned with the warfighter to provide capability at the speed of war. The G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities will incorporate contracting and innovative acquisitions strategies in a platform enabling U.S., NATO, and partners to acquire TRL 6+ solutions rapidly through pre-competed vendor onboarding tied directly to direct user feedback and exercises.

Q2: How does this differ from xTech

A2: xTech is one of the Prize Challenge ACE onramps into the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities. Vendors selected through ACEs, such as xTech Prize Challenge competitions (e.g. xTech Counter Strike, xTech Edge Strike: Ground, or xTech Kinetic Reach) are onboarded into the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities for future Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) contracts/orders/agreements.

Q3: Can foreign Companies Particpate?

A3: Yes, subject to export and security compliance, and provided they are not from a Foreign Country of Concern (FCOC).

Q4: What happens after G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities onboarding?

A4: Vendors are listed in the G-TEAD Library of Competed Capabilities (PENDING), visible to Army, NATO, and partner buyers, and eligible for direct contracts/orders without additional competition.

Q5: What authorities will be used to place orders?

A5: Contracts/Orders/Agreements may be executed under the authorities listed in section 1 above or via FMS/DCS channels.

Timeline:The official timeline is published on the xTech Website: https://xtech.army.mil/competitions/

Q6: How do I register for a CAGE/ NCAGE CODE

A6:

NCAGE: Please refer to instructions at: https://www.nspa.nato.int/business/frequently-asked-questions/what-is-the-procedure-to-apply-for-a-ncage-code

CAGE: A CAGE Code can be created through registering an entity in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).  For more information on creating a CAGE code on SAM.gov , view Registration, Renewal, and CAGE Creation article.

https://www.dla.mil/Working-With-DLA/Applications/Details/Article/2920893/cage-code-commercial-and-government-entity-code/